Sony settles Rootkit case with the attorneys general of Los Angeles County and the state of California

The agreement between Sony BMG and the attorneys general of Los Angeles County and the state of California settles a lawsuit charging that the company secretly embedded digital rights management software on CDs that potentially opened the door to hackers.

People need to note that a key part of these cases was a lack of disclosure by Sony of their circumvention of computer security. In the case of "DRM" by Microsoft (so-called "plays for sure" which doesn't play very many places) or Apple (so-called "Fair Play" which is anything but fair) the fact that security is compromised and the the hardware is under the control of Microsoft or Apple, rather than its owner, is considered adequately disclosed. Governments are not protecting the property rights of technology owners, just suggesting that the attacks against their privacy/security/property need to be disclosed.